Workbox3.0 magnetic panel review (and my stamp storage system)

Ever have one of those "duh" moments in life?  This was another one for me.  LOL!  When I picked up the Workbox3.0, I said I didn't need the panels.  Of course I did!  What was I thinking???  They arrived today.  Super easy to put in.  Perfect fit.  I am really glad that I ordered 2 sets - 1 set per door.

The center seam is barely noticeable.

Right side panel - went on just as easy.  And, as you can see, I loaded them up completely and STILL have 5 sets of dies that didn't fit!  YIKES!

And just look at all my old spellbinders nestabilities.  I have one of their "mystery" dies left from my Design Team days.  And I still have some of their very first dies in the squares. I still use their Hanukkah dies from 2005.   Also a few of the first Quickutz dies.  How great is it that the dies now come in individual shapes?  I sure save on my paper!

I think I will love this.  Dies are easy to see, not hidden away.  I might actually use them a little more often.

And this will be the normal view as the dies are on the outside of the outer doors.  Easy to access, easy to hide.  Love it!

So what about those 5 sets that just didn't fit?  I kept out the dies that have matching stamps.  I'm using the new Sizzix envelopes that have magnetic panels that fit inside.  And - bonus, they fit in the storage boxes in that very center column.  Did they plan this?  It certainly works!!

I'm using the 5x7 envelopes - available at hobby lobby.com - come in a 3pack.  The panels are also on their website.  The white side is for cling stamps -

The black side is for dies.  Perfect for sets.

And you can get several sets into each container.  Yep, I have way too many stamps (and dies)!  

For my longer stamps, i.e., Julie Nutting dies, I use the 6x9 sizzix envelopes and I cut the panels from 8.5x11 cling sheets from Crafter's Companion.  They all fit nicely into one of these same storage bins.  

I don't have a lot of the larger stamps, so I was able to stuff other things in this bin as well.  I just love it when different companies work together to make crafty organization so easy!

I use this for all my unmounted stamps - if there are no dies, I just cut up the cling sheets to fit either the 5x7 or the 6x9 envelopes.  

Did you find time to play today?  

JLo:)

Adding on to my Workbox 3.0

A couple of years ago I took up watercolor painting.  It's been slow.  The classes have been a blast.  And of course....more crafty stuff to store.  I have one of these over the door paint tube holders.  It works great!

 But if I want everything I'm keeping to go in the Workbox3.0....this just doesn't cut it.

When you open the Workbox all the way out, there is still empty space on the exterior sides.  Way too narrow for the paint tube holder.....but I do have a sewing machine.....

Yep, I cut that thing down to 5 pockets wide and 5 rows.  I did give up some storage, but I managed to get 3-5 tubes of paint into each pocket.  Note - it's important to store paint tubes like this so that they don't leak out.  If you've had that happen once, it's more than enough!

Is that a perfect fit?  For the most part, it's completely out of site....yet easy to get to when I need to refill a palette.  

I took the seam binding off the part I had cut away and used it to finish off the piece I'm keeping.  Hard to tell that it was cut.  Gotta love a good seam ripper!

And for now, I'm using command hooks to hold it up.  5# each hook - it stayed overnight so I think it's good.  But I'll come up with something a little more permanent down the line.  (Time for a run to Home Depot?)

I know that I'm going to be moving.  Maybe sooner than I'm ready (ok, are you ever ready to move?) I have my name on a waiting list for an apartment in a 55+ community.  A whole block away!   It's where mom lived and my youngest sister lives there now.  I told them I'd take a studio, but I know I would then move into a 1 bedroom when one came available.  I've told myself that ALL my art stuff (excluding sewing) has to fit into this Workbox.  When I first said that....I really didn't think I meant hanging from the outside as well.  But it works!

Maybe I should come up with a business designing add-ons for the Workbox3.0.  This is kind of fun!!!  Hmmmm....what can I hang from the other side???

LOL!

Hope you are having a fun day!

The Workbox 3.0 - my personal review

I first saw the "original scrapbook" at a trade show back about 2005.  I was enamored with it the moment I saw it.....but simply couldn't afford it and had no space for it.  Thirteen years later, I now own the current version of it and just love it!

I suppose that I should explain that I converted the master bed room into a large art room.  I still have some of my go-organize cubes...but I will be downsizing them as well!

I'm on the originalscrapbox.com email list and in September, I got an email about their scratch-n-dent sale.   I live about 8 hours from the plant and made the call.  They had several in the warehouse and I just decided to drop everything and make the drive!  The aspen were turning.  It was a great trip!

When I arrived the next morning after spending the night in a local hotel, I was greeted by "Jennybox".  Immediate new friend!  She took me to the warehouse where I think I swooned!  I wanted them all!  LOL!  But in my mind, I wanted a plain white box.   The "ergo".   They had to pull some out to see what was behind others, and they found one.  It was simply a no brainer at that point!

A scratch-n-dent model.  I could not see a single scratch or dent on it.  Half price off of a new model and it was assembled.  My hotel and gas were less than shipping.  I did buy the overhead panel/light and a wonderful young man expertly packed it in the back of my F150....filling up the truck bed, the back seat and the passenger seat.  I could still see out the rearview mirror for the drive home.  I think we were done by 10 am and I was back home by 8 pm that night!

It was set up the next day, but it took me a few days to get it loaded.  I bought sheets of wood plywood and covered the carpeting as the casters just will not roll on carpet (medium pile) when it's loaded.

I am thinking about moving into an apartment and know that I need to downsize my craft stash.  I also know that my future space will be limited.  I'm keeping my watercolor painting supplies, card making/die-cutting/stamping supplies, some embossing stuff, all my copic markers/airbrush.....ok, who am I kidding?  Downsizing?  LOL!!!

Here's my review:


Sizzix makes 5x6 storage envelopes with magnetic cards in them.  They are perfect for storing stamps and dies and fit nicely into the bins in the center slots.  I have unmounted all of my stamps and every die/stamp is now in these envelopes - the drawers are sorted by type so I can easily find what I want.

The best stamp/die storage system I have ever had!

The plastic divider trays that I had purchased from Michaels and used in my "go-organize" cubes fit perfectly inside the 12x12 trays and still serve their purpose of organizing small things.  This is my glue/tape/undu drawer:

I did mess with the light a bit.  Velcro'd the switch to the underside of the drawers and the power outlet is velcro'd to the back rear center of the opening.  This makes it really easy to turn the light on and off....and I don't have cables anywhere.

Hope you can see the light switch on the top and my outlet in the bottom back.  It has 2 usb ports and 2 power outlets so I can charge my phone, iPad, etc.

Kerry had the 12" iPad and I'm keeping it because it sets nicely against the drawers and I can watch my youtube videos while I work!  Yep, that's theoriginalscrapbox.com home page on my screen right there and I'm looking at it from about 2' away.  I'm sure in some future rendition they will include a drop-down frame to put your iPad into.  Oh dear....maybe I'll have to make one!  Hmmm....

I purchased the right side door frame.  I did not like the little velcro bags because if you put anything heavy in them, and then velcro them on, the back wall bulges outward.  This works for me.....but I did save all the bags and am using them in other spots!

I had a Karen Foster Seat Tote from 10 years ago and it came with this velcro back file insert.  It happens to fit perfectly onto the velcro in the lower left hand side.  Yep - no more file cabinet!  Love how this worked out!

It has velcro closures on both sides but it does open out and you can see some manilla folder in it.  Starting to think I don't even need those....just drop my receipts down between the dividers.

After I had had it for a couple of months, I re-did the shelves.  I think when you start out, we all just follow the directions.  But that doesn't always work.  In this slot, I have my Misti and to the left of it are my card making supplies:

As you can see, I have little card storage packs labeled so I can tell what's inside.  This works perfectly to grab and go to crops or classes.  I precut my dies, pre-emboss backgrounds, pre-color images and at crops, all I do is assemble.  Makes chatting with the gals so much more fun!

I truly love the tiny little long bins:

My alcohol inks are in one, my distress oxide reindeers in another....and I can pull each bin out and put on my table while I work.  Everything at my fingertips and I can also grab these to go to a class or crop.

I even have most of my stamp pads in these bins.

What works for me may not work for others but that's the true beauty of the workbox - you can put the shelves/bins anywhere you want them.  It will hold 1200 pounds and I'm pretty sure I'm at the max weight!

When I drop the table down, it folds into a 30x33" cube which is such a small space.  Here's their video:



which pretty much says it all!

Would I buy it again? Yes!  In fact, I didn't have room for any of my sewing stuff and really think I need the sewing box....but that sort of defeats my intent of downsizing!

or maybe just the EZ Sew....it has an elevator for the sewing machine!

If you decide to buy one because of this review, just let Jennybox know that JLo sent you!  :)

Best get back to selling more stuff on ebay so I can buy one of the sewing boxes!

Where I play

So many of you have asked to see photos of my studio and I hope you won't be disappointed!  I've lived in this tiny bungalow for almost 2 years now....and it's taken me that long to get my art supplies organized.  But I think I'm there!!!  Keep in mind that this is a 9x11 bedroom!  And I have it about as jammed full as you can, but there's still space for me and 1 other person to play!

This is looking in through the door.  The window is on the north side of the house.  I use the Jetmax cubes that Michael's carries.  

It's pretty hard to photo such a small room, so this would be the next section going to the right of the first shot.  The cubes give me so much storage and I've got my dolls in glass cases on top of them.  Mom's paintings on the walls.  There's a very small TV hooked up to netflix.  We also have all of our DVDs on the home network so I can watch any movie on this little TV.

I have my desktop covered with non-stick craft sheet.  I love this because I can simply ink all over the place!

This would be the south wall (closet)

and the rest of the wall to the right of the closet.  I added slat board pieces to the walls, something new for me.  It made my ribbon storage so much fun and now it's out in the open where I can see it.  The row of CD cases are clear acrylic stamps.  The 2-tiered "lantern" is made from paper that's been folded and cut.

below the ribbons, more cubes for storage.  My bow-it-all and a zutter cutter are out in the open where I can easily access them.  The black tray is another ribbon holder system.

 

Going back to the left, there's a small section that's behind the closet doors when they are open.  I put slat wall there with 3" shelves coming out.  It is a perfect place to store all my silk dye inks and supplies!

inside the closet I put up 2 of those 9 cube storage things.  Each cube here is a foot square.  With the fabric boxes on top, I get so much storage in this closet it's hard to believe!  I have tons of fabric in these cubes and all of my doll repair supplies.  On the top are doll wigs, shoes, hats, clothes...so much stuff.  But it's all nicely organized and out of sight!

Now over to the west wall.  More slat wall with a shelf going across the top.  The netting has twinkle lights in it...just for fun.  I mean, if you are going to play....why not play where it's fun?  I just love looking up at all the little dolls and things on this shelf!

The other end of the wall.  I found paper trays to put in the slat wall and love it!  My cricut is out on top, but when I move it, this becomes my photo staging area.

And I love these flat files.  Boy!  Do they every hold a ton of stamps and other items!

Here's the top part of the west wall.  I have plenty of space to use my die cut system on the big shelf.  Love that!  And the old laptop is our media server for the house.

and here's the bottom part of that wall.  Tons of storage.  The 12x12 files along the bottom hold my genealogy files.

Back to the north wall, I have my sewing desk set up and ready to go.  The glare doesn't show the beauty of the gorgeous stained glass window Colleen made for me years ago.  I'll have to photo that in the dark one of these days.

You really have to look everywhere in this room.  For instance, under the desk, on the left side is a metal panel with magnetic bins stuck to it.  They house eyelets, snaps, all kinds of "littles" for sewing.  I love that idea because I can just pull them off and use them and when done, stick them back on!

Here's a close up - not even a foot wide, but fit that space just perfect!

So here are some of my storage solutions.  I do love stickles but had no idea I had this many bottles of clear stickles until I got them all in one spot!  That red button - all my lights are on a single switch - just press that and they all come on at once.  You need great lighting in a room this small and crowded!

If you can see in the upper left of this shot - I've got buttons stored in glass jars.

I used plain steel rods for my ribbon spools and twisted velcro strips at the ends to hold them in place.  So far it seems to be working just fine.

Of course, there's always going to be a skeptic who will think the insides of my drawers are a mess.  Nope, for once they are completely organized!  This drawer holds just my silk ribbons.  I love using them when I'm restoring an old doll - so I need lots!  :o)

The flat files hold stamps, inks, glitter, H20's and oversized paper.  This is my distress ink pad drawer.  Well, a few other things tossed in there for now.

They are the perfect place for wood mounted stamps



The top drawer was deep enough to put almost all of my cling back stamps on cards cut to fit the height of the drawer.  I love this system for storing my cling back stamps.  Between these and whats in the CD cases, I have over 1000 stamps - and that's after downsizing!

I love the little divider trays you can get to go into the jetmax cubes.  Makes it handy to sort out my reinkers, inks and dyes.

I also use them to sort flowers.  But I love the little clear buckets as I can simply pull them out to go with me to a crop.

In the deeper drawers (the cubes have either 2 or 3 drawers per cube) I'm storing my misters and other products.

Finally, I've borrowed this idea from Jenn Dove.  I'm using magazine holders to sort leftover scraps of paper by color groups - great for card backgrounds!

So there you have it - my studio in a nutshell.  Next up - I'm going to insulate the 8x12 shed out back that I'm calling a "cottage" and convert it into a room for my outdoor crafts.  That will include dichroic glass, metal clay - all the things that need to be fired in a kiln.  I already have the glass saw and grinder set up and plan to try out the kiln tomorrow.  It's going to be a great space for the crafts I don't want to do inside the house!  After all, this is just a bedroom!  :o)

Hope you've enjoyed the virtual tour.  If you have questions, feel free to ask.  I have now used these jetmax cubes for about 6 years.  I loved the configuration in our old home, but I think what I love most is that you can make them work in any space you have!  And no, jetmax doesn't pay me to say that!  LOL!!!